NJC recommends compulsory retirement of 2 judges over age falsification
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the compulsory retirement of two judges for falsifying their ages.
A statement on Sunday in Abuja by Soji Oye, Director, Information of the council, said the decision was taken at the council’s 93rd Meeting of December 16, 2020 held virtually.
The statement said the compulsory retirement of Grand Kadi, Shu’aibu Talba, the Grand Kadi of Yobe State and Justice Abdulkareem Babatunde Abdulrasaq of Osun State High Court was with immediate effect.
The statement read in part: “Hon. Grand Kadi Shu’aibu Talba was recommended for compulsory retirement following an investigation into a petition against him written by one Malam Zakar Adamu, chairman, Movement for Justice in Nigeria, alleging that His Lordship falsified his age on two occasions, i.e. from 1st February, 1955 to 27th August, 1955 and later to 30th December, 1959.
“Findings revealed that he was supposed to have retired on 1st February, 2020 by virtue of his declared date of birth of 1st February 1955.
“The Council, after deliberation, decided to recommend His Lordship’s compulsory retirement to Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State. Furthermore, council requested the government of Yobe State to deduct all salaries received by His Lordship from 1st February, 2020 till date, from his gratuity, and remit same to the National Judicial Council that pays salaries of all Judicial Officers in the Federation.
“The Council also considered a petition by Chief Yomi Alliyu, SAN, and found merit in his allegation against Hon. Justice Abdul-Kareem Babatunde Abdulrasaq that His Lordship falsified his date of birth from 3rd September, 1955 to 3rd September, 1957.
“The council, therefore, recommended His Lordship’s compulsory retirement to Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State with effect from 3rd September, 2020. It also requested the Osun State Government to deduct from His Lordship gratuity, salaries received by him from 3rd September, 2020, and remit same to the National Judicial Council.”
The statement stated further that council derived its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The two judges have been suspended from office, pending the approval of the recommendation of their compulsory retirements by their respective governors.
The council noted that 18 petitions were received against 14 Federal and High Courts judges but found no merit in the petitions, hence they were dismissed.
Federal high court judges affected include: Justice Simon A. Amobeda, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, Justice R. O. Dugbo Oghoghorie, among others.
In the same vain, 69 judicial officers were recommended for appointment as heads of court, judges of high court of states, kadis of states/FCT Sharia Courts of Appeal and judges of the customary courts of appeal, the statement said.